9 Secrets for a Low Maintenance Easy Garden

Do you feel your garden is hard work? Too much digging, weeding, watering and fertilising? For minimal results?

The principles for doing less work, with greater rewards are simple. These are just a few of my secrets for creating an easy garden. Dig in!

Easy Garden Ideas

1. Good Design

One of the secrets to less work in your garden is thoughtful planning. You may feel overwhelmed if you aim for perfection. I spend time applying Permaculture principles to ‘design out’ potential problems. You can refine and add to your plan later.

Begin one project at a time. A simple DIY edible planter is a good place to start. Once you gain confidence, you can create the next element in your garden.

2. Less is Often Enough

If you have limited time, energy or space (or all three!), keep things simple. A small, well-designed space with a few productive pots may be sufficient right now. If your garden is taking too much time, money, energy or not producing for you, it may be time to down-scale. At least for a short time. Give yourself permission to do less!

Mulch some garden beds for now. You’ll be growing good soil until you decide what to do.

Have a reality check! Reflect on what you love about your garden. Stick to plants that bring you the most enjoyment.

Team up with a friend, neighbour, family or gardening buddy to spread the load. Working together makes your garden tasks easier and much more enjoyable. So does that cuppa or wine afterwards!

Buy yourself some time to relax and reflect. Give yourself time to problem solve. Decide on the next stage from there.

“Whatever you’re working on, take small bites. The task will not be overwhelming if you can reduce it to its smallest component.” – Richard Russo, author.

3. Choose Plants Wisely

Fruit and vegetables are like an extension of your family, so only select plant ‘relatives’ you like! Some are ‘high maintenance’, hard work and a ‘long term relationship’. Like most fruit trees!

To produce a healthy crop, fruit trees need your attention regularly.

Short term ‘guests’ like easy lettuces and annuals only take up residence in your garden for a few months at a time.

If you choose a lot of plants that are high maintenance, you better have the time and energy to keep up with them! Hardy, easy-to-grow edibles are perfect for beginners. Or if you have limited time.

Select Low Maintenance Plants:

Hardy perennials that can handle tough climate conditions. They are generally low maintenance once established. [Save energy and time].

Edibles that are pest and disease resistant. [Save time managing problems].

Digging destroys soil life. So your garden will be less productive with dead invisible helpers. You want to build healthy soil instead.

Raised beds, containers and straw bale gardens are a few options for growing above ground.

You won’t need to disturb the soil with no-dig gardens. Raised beds and portable wheelbarrow planters like these are easy on the back!

Add organic matter like compost and mulch in layers. These gardens are a lot more comfortable on your back. Less bending, weeding, pests and disease too. That’s enJOYable!

5. Feed Your Soil, Not Your Plants

Green manures, cover crops, worm castings, compost and mulches all break down to create rich soil. This reduces the need to buy in supplies and fertilisers, even organic ones. So you save money too.

Composted organic matter creates a ‘soil pantry’ of food for your plants. Just so long as your soil is kept moist, your plants will be able to take up the nutrients via their roots. You will reduce your need to fertilise plants tremendously.

If you want healthy soil to grow disease and pest-free plants, feeding your soil will make life much easier.

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6. Work with Nature

The more beneficial insects, native birds, frogs and soil microbes you have in your garden, the easier your life will be. Why? All these critters take care of the jobs that would mean work for you! They are your silent partners helping you create an easy garden.

Predator insects and birds keep pest insects and rodents under control. Microorganisms help feed your plants and defend them from diseases.

All you have to do is provide the habitat for nature to ‘set up house’ and they will do the rest. It’s a win-win investment that pays great dividends.

Attract birds into your garden by providing shelter and water. They will take care of pest management for you.

8. Water Smart

Leverage your time by utilising clever ways to water your garden. There are many solutions from free or cheap, to more expensive irrigation systems.

Self-watering pots, wicking beds, upside-down plastic bottle drip systems, swales and soaker hoses are just a few options you can try. These solutions save you watering every day and really make life easier.

Your plants can take up moisture when they need it. These systems provide more control and are low maintenance. So less chance of wasting precious water or accidentally drowning your plants!

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Hi Anne, my name is Jack Bennett, and I live in Devon, UK. I’ve just stumbled upon your blog and I really love it. A lot of useful information for us – amateur gardeners. 🙂 I’ve also subscribed to your newsletter. Keep up the good work! -Jack

Hello Anne, I just subscribed to your newsletter. I’ve been looking around your site and have found a lot of great information. Especially helpful is this one on making your own. I’m just finishing the season here and about to empty pots into one large bin with sheep manure to break down over the winter. Can’t wait to try out your ‘recipe’ next spring.

DIY Potting Mix Guide

Want to learn how to make your own potting soil and seed raising mixes? This Guide provides simple illustrated instructions, ingredients you need and the roles they play. Discover how to make a long-lasting soil mix that holds moisture + tips to change soil pH. If you want to save money, stop killing plants with soil that dries out too fast and be more sustainable, start making your own potting mix!